Electrolytic condenser



pri 28, 1936. H. EMMENs ET AL' 2,039,154

ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Filed June 8, 1933 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 Hendrik Eminem,

Willem Christiaan van Geel,

and Anthonius Frederik Peter Johannes Claas- Sell,

Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignors to N. V. Philips Gloeilampentabrieken, Eindhoven,

Netherlands Application June 8, 1933, ASel'ial'No'. 674,929

` In Germany June 10, 1932 f 14 claims. (ci. 175.-3'15) This invention relates to electrolytic condensers and more particularly to the electrolytes used in such condensers. i

'I'he capacity eflect obtained in such devices is due to the properties of the electrolytically formed oxide fllm of the lmed electrode or elec trodes, when immersed in a suitable electrolyte, and the proper functioning of the condenser depends on the intactness of this oxide iilm.

While various electrolytes have been suggested for the condensers, both acidic and alkaline, it has been found that the best results are obtained when the electrolyte is substantially neutral,y as

even weak acids or alkalies are liable to attack, the electrodes and their iilm, especially during' periods `ofidleness of the condenser.

In present-day condensers, as a rule, as electrolyte is used which is asolut'on of a weak acid and of alkali salts or ammonia salts, and especially good results .are obtained with an electrolyte as described in the co-pending application Ser. No.A 594,982 flied February 25, 1932, in which the electrolyte' comprises primary potassium phosphatsand secondary potassium phosphate in suchV proportion as to make the solution substantially neutral.

While, as pointed out in` said application, even weakacids attack the nlm and the neutralizing of the acid electrolyte has beentound highly advantageous, Werhave found the quitesurprising fact that by rendering the electrolyte comparatively highly acidic very important improvements can be obtained.

According to the invention an acid, for instance, citric acid, is added to the electrolyte which preferably comprises at least one primary or secondary phosphate, so as to give the electrolyte a pH falling between the values of 2 to 4.

As it is well known, the pH value of a solution is the negative logarithm of the gure which gives the H-ion concentration inthe solution.

Thereby pH=7 represents a neutral solution, corresponding to the concentration of 10'I gramatoms o! H-ions per liter. Pure distilled water can be generally regarded as such a neutral solution.

Alkaline solutions have pH values above 7, while acidic solutions have pH values below 7, and the greater the acidity Athe smaller the pH value,.and the greater the alkalinity the Vgreater the pH value.

According tothe invention, by the addition 4of a comparatively 'strong acid, for instance, of citric comprising a solution of a phosphate, the a relatively high acidity. Preferably the acidity of such electrolyte shouldviall between the pH values of 2 to 4. If the acidity of the electrolyte is either materially lower or higher, the lmed electrode is attacked by the electrolyte and the condenser gradually deteriorates. On the other hand, if the'pH value of the electrolyte fallsvbetween 2 and 4, and is preferably about 3.5 to 3.7, thev acid exerts a very favorable` stabilizing etlect'on vthe iilm and the film shows great permanency. The

electrolyte comprises" preferably at least one of the primary and secondary phosphates, for instance, primary or secondary potassium phosphate," a comparatively strong acid, i'or instance, citric acid, an alkaline, for instance, a carbonate, and one or more ionizing solvents, i'or instance, a. polyhydrous alcohol, as glycerine, and water. Other polyhydrous alcohols, for instance glycol, may be used.

The invention will bemore clearlyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawing which Vrepresents by way oi Aexample an embodiment thereof.

The single `ligure is adiagrammatic side view, partly in section, of an electrolytic condenser embodying our invention'.

The electrode I of the condenser consists ora lm-forming metal, preferably of aluminium con `taining less than .05% of copper, which material,

as described in the copending application of van Arkel, Emmens and van Geel, Ser. No. 659,204, iiled March l, 1933, can be subjected to a chemical roughening process by means of which its effective surface maybe increased several fold.

The electrode may be of any suitable construction, as shown it consists of `a cylindrical body provided with ribs 2 and carried by an extension 5. The electrode i is suitably provided with an electrolytlcally formed aluminiumfoxlde illm. The container 3 of the condenser may be' of noniilmng or nlm-forming metal, for instance,'ot aluminium.

Instead of aluminium tantalum may be' used.

The electrolyte 4 lls up the container close to its top.

The container is provided with a reentrant cap I0 which may be integral with the container or may be a separate part suitably secured thereto.

`'I'he cap il carries a rubber apvalve 8 of the 50 titanium, zirconium or Y general construction Vdescribed in the co-pondi'ng consists oi a solution which is substantially neut tral or slightly acidic or alkaline. and to which is added a comparatively strong acid, so that the resultant acidity of the electrolyte gives a pH value oi between 2 to 4.

A suitable electrolyte, for instance, is one which comprises 40 gms. oi primary potassium phosphatc (KHzPOt), 40 gms. of citric acid, 17 ccm.

of ammonium hydroxide (N1-LCH) 6 norm., one

liter of glycerine and about 10% of water. The specific resistance oi auch a solution is about 5000 ohms.

As the alkaline constituent, instead of ammonta. sodium bicarbonate NaHCOa or sodium carbonate NazCOa, mayr be used, and preferably the amount of alkaline constituent added should be such that in each case an acidity of about pH 3.5 should be obtained.

Another suitable electrol' te consists oi 40 gms.

oi. secondary sodium phosphate (NaaHPOi), 40

gms. :of citric acid, one liter of glycerine, 10% to 12% of water, in which case the acidity is about 3.7.

Instead of citric acid otb .r acids as for instance phosphoric acid or trlrtaric acid may be `mueslil Though the best results have been obtained `with alcohol as a solvent, the invention is also applicable to aqueous solutions.

While it has been already known to give the electrolyte used for electrolytic condensers a slight acidity, the prime purpose of such acidulation was to prevent the electrolyte of turning alkaline during operation and such acidulated electrolytes had. pH values of 5.5 to 6.5,-thus the electrolyte was but slightly acidic.

While we have described our invention in connection with speciilc examples, we do not wish to be limited to same. but desire the appended claims to be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What we claim is:

l. An electrolytic condenser comprising a illmforming electrode and an electrolyte comprising as solution of a phosphate and of an acid, said electrolyte having a pH value oi 2 to 4. y

2. An electrolytic condenser comprising a filmforming electrode and an electrolyte, said electrolyte comprising an alcoholic solution o! a phosphate and of an acid, and having a pH value o! 2 to 4.

3. An electrolytic condenser comprising a dimiorming electrode and an electrolyte comprising an alcoholic solution of at least one of the primary and secondary phosphates a'nd citric acid.

4. An electrolyte for electrolytic condensers, comprising at least one ofthe primary and secondary phosphates, and an scid, said electrolyte having a oH value of 2 to 4.

5. An electrolyte ior electrolytic condensers. comprising an alcoholic solution of at least one of the primary and secondary potassium phosphates, and citric acid, said electrolyte having a pH value of 2 to 4.

6. An electrolytic condenser comprising a illmforming electrode and an electrolyte comprising a glycerine solution of at least one oi the primary and secondary phosphates, and an acid. said solution having a pH value oi 2 to 4.

'7. An electrolyte for electrolytic condensers, comprising an alcoholic solution oi at least one `of the primary and secondary phosphates and an acid, said electrolyte having a pH value oi 2 to 4.

8, An electrolyte for electrolytic condensers, comprising at leastone oi the primary and secondary phosphates, an acid and an alkali, said electrolyte having a pH value of 3.5.

9. An electrolytic condenser comprising a ilimfcrming electrode, and an electrolyte comprising a phosphate, an acid and a. carbonate, said solution having a pH of approximately 3.5.

10. An electrolytic condenser having a filmforming electrode and an electrolyte comprising a solution of one of the primary and secondary phosphates, citric acid, ammonium hydroxide glycerine and water, said electrolyte having a pH value of 2 to 4.

li.`An electrolytic condenser comprising a film-forming electrode and an electrolyte comprising a glycerine solution of primary potassium phosphate, citric `acid and ammonia, said electrolyte having a pH value of 2 to 4.

12. An electrolytic condenser comprising a nlm-forming electrode and an electrolyte comprising a glycerine solution oi primary potassium phosphate, citric acid and a carbonate, said electrolyte having a pH value of 2 to 4.

13. An electrolytic Vcondenser comprising a film-forming electrode and an electrolyte comprising an alcoholic solution of one of the primary and secondary phosphates of an alkali metal and citric acid, said electrolyte having a pH value of 2 to 4.

14. An acidic electrolyte for electrolytic condensers comprising a phosphate and a sufiicient amount oi acid to impart to the electrolyte a. pH value of 2 to 4.

HENDRIK EMMENS.

WILLEM CHRISI'IAAN VAN GEEL.

ANTHONIUS FREDERIK PETER JOHANNES CLAASSEN. 

